As we move into 2026, the New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) is tightening the ship on data and compliance. For Black-owned businesses and CAURD license holders, staying compliant is just as important as getting the license in the first place. Here is the critical news you need to know this week to keep your doors open and your business secure.
1. The Immediate Hurdle: January 12 Inventory Deadline
If you are a retail licensee, you have until this Monday, January 12, 2026, to enter all your existing inventory into the Metrc system.
The OCM originally set a hard deadline for December, but the extension to January 12 was a necessary breathing room for many of our shops transitioning from legacy systems. Do not miss this date. Retailers who fail to log inventory by Monday may face disruptions in their ability to make sales or receive new product.
Looking Ahead: Starting February 28, 2026, the training wheels come off completely. Retail Item IDs will be required for all transfers from Distributors to Dispensaries. If your supply chain data isn’t clean by then, your shelves could go empty.
2. Provisional License Relief
In a major win for those still fighting to secure real estate, the Cannabis Control Board has extended all provisional CAURD and adult-use licenses through December 31, 2026.
We know the struggle: finding a landlord willing to rent to a cannabis business in our neighborhoods is difficult, and high interest rates have made capital expensive. This one-year extension gives our entrepreneurs the time needed to secure the right location without the fear of their provisional license expiring.
3. New LLC Transparency Rules
Effective January 1, 2026, the LLC Transparency Act is live. If you operate your cannabis business as an LLC (which most of us do), you may now be required to file beneficial ownership disclosures. This is a general NYS law, not just OCM, but it affects every license holder. Ensure your paperwork is in order so you don't get flagged.
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